Marie Blanche Wyllie Obituary

Marie Wyllie (née Laboe), 10/13/1932 - 4/3/2025
Marie Blanche Laboe was born on October 13, 1932, to Jerome and Agatha Laboe in Monroe, Michigan. Marie was the third child and only sister to her siblings, Jerry, Jack, Tom, Mark and Mike.
Marie held especially fond memories of her earliest years in the Laboe family home on West Elm Street, with its generous wraparound porch and constant activity. She also held fond memories of life on The Farm, where her family moved to weather the impact of the Great Depression. The Laboe home was filled with adventure and music and holidays were filled with song and piano accompaniment shared with generations of family members.
Marie graduated from St. Mary's Academy in Monroe, Michigan and continued to college at Marygrove College in Detroit, Michigan. During her college years, Marie sang in the Glee Club, provided religious education to at-risk students in Detroit, and cared for abandoned babies in a Chicago orphanage. In 1952, Marie traveled to France to attend Loyola University in Paris for a year abroad, where she developed fluency in French and had many opportunities to travel and explore post-war Europe. She returned to Marygrove, graduating in 1955 with a degree in French. The following year, Marie taught fourth and fifth grades at St. John School in Monroe.
Marie moved to Berkeley, California to marry William (Bill) Wyllie where she supported her new husband while he completed law school. Their first two children, David and Ann, were born in California and the young family moved to Salem, Oregon in 1960 where Caroline and Mary were born. Marie was an active volunteer in the Catholic church, teaching catechism classes for several years when the children were in grade school. She later joined Aglow Women's Fellowship where she held several leadership positions and was an active participant for fifteen years.
Marie retired from the State of Oregon in the mid-1990's. She subsequently received a master`s degree in management from Willamette University.
Marie was preceded in death by her former husband, William Wyllie, her son, David Wyllie; parents, Agatha and Jerome Laboe; brothers, Jerry, Jack and Mike Laboe; niece, Collete Laboe; and Laboe sisters-in-law, Tassie, Joan, and Anne. She is survived by brothers, Tom and Mark Laboe and sisters-in-law, Joanne and Marilyn Laboe; and Laboe nieces and nephews too numerous to mention. On the Wyllie side, Marie was preceded in death by her former in-laws, Edward and Blanche Wyllie; brother-in-law, Dick Munn, and nephew, Daniel Munn; She is survived by sister-in-law, Joyce Munn, and nephews, Stephen and Bryan Munn.
Marie is survived by daughters Ann Willing (David), Mary Wyllie, and Caroline Wyllie (Chuck Skillern). Cherished grandchildren who survive Marie are Nathan Wyllie, Ben West, Tyler Baldini, Erin Baldini (Drew Forehand), Claire Willing (Jesus Rueda), Zane Willing, and Mackenzie Wyllie.
Marie was known for her faith, her intelligence, her gift with language and the immense pride she had in her family - especially her seven grandchildren. She surprised us every day with her sense of humor. We love you and miss you, Mom. We are comforted by the fact that you are reunited with cherished departed family members, especially your first-born and only son, David.
The family would like to thank Diana, Shania, Sharioth and Vicky for their love and support at Bonaventure Senior Living in Salem. A heartfelt thanks to all the wonderful caregivers at Sisters Senior Living and a shoutout to High Lakes caregivers and Bristol Hospice who lovingly supported Mom in her final days. You are all angels on earth!
A celebration honoring the life of Marie Wyllie will be held on June 28th in Salem, Oregon.